Tanka: Five Flowing Lines

A tanka, also known as a waka or uta, is a Japanese poem of five lines and 31 syllables.  It is similar to a haiku, but has two additional lines.

Line 1:  5 syllables
Line 2:  7 syllables
Line 3:  5 syllables
Line 4:  7 syllables
Line 5:  7 syllables

Here is a famous tanka written by a Japanese poet from 850 AD named Ono No Komachi.

The colour of the cherry blossom

Has faded in vain

In the long rain

While in idle thoughts

I have spent my life.

http://www.cbfhawaii.com/sites/default/files/Blooming-Pink-Cherry-Blossom-pink-color-34590866-1600-1200.jpg

Here is Great Blue Heron by Thomas Martin:

I must tell you this bird:

long, thin legs, sharp beak

wading in a dappled stream

grayish blue, at home in Cypress

Curving skyward through Spanish moss.

http://ridgefieldbirds.com/Images08Feb/RNWR_great_blue_heron_02-03-08.jpg

For more information on how to write a tanka, visit http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Tanka-Poem.